On the morning of June 3, 2025, an unusual astronomical phenomenon will occur in the sky - a parade of planets, which astronomers call alignment. All the planets of the Solar System - from Mercury to Neptune - will be on one side of the Sun, gathering in a sector of the sky about 90 degrees wide. This event is called an invisible parade, because due to the proximity to the Sun, most of the planets cannot be observed with the naked eye.
The Moscow Planetarium recalled that the "parade of planets" is not a scientific term, but it helps to popularize astronomy. In reality, the planets only appear close to one line, but do not line up exactly on one straight line. If this happens on the night side of the sky, several planets can be seen at once. If the alignment occurs close to the Sun - as in June - the planets are drowned in its bright light and become invisible to the observer.
On the morning of June 3, the planets will line up in the following order from the Sun: Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Neptune and Saturn. They will be joined by the Moon, which on June 3 will be near Mars, on June 4 - near Uranus, and on June 5-6 - past Jupiter, Mercury and Venus. Despite the fact that the event is unique, it will not be possible to see most of the planets.
You can only observe Saturn - and even then for a short time, about 2 a.m., very low above the southeastern horizon. Neptune and Mars also rise before dawn, but quickly disappear in the morning rays. The remaining planets will remain invisible due to the solar glow. Using a telescope at such moments is dangerous - you can damage your eyesight due to the proximity to the Sun.
Summer is not the best time to observe the planets: at the latitude of Moscow, the night lasts only 4 hours. The main planetary show in early June takes place in the daytime sky, to the right of the Sun, where the human eye is powerless.
In June, astronomers advise observing Venus, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in the morning, and Mars in the evening. Mercury and Jupiter will be unavailable for observation due to sunlight. Venus will move through four constellations during the month - Pisces, Cetus, Aries and Taurus. Saturn and Neptune will remain in Pisces, Uranus in Taurus, Mars in Leo. Jupiter at the end of the month, June 24, will be in conjunction with the Sun - and will be completely hidden from observation.
The next small parade is expected on August 28, 2024, when four planets - Mercury, Jupiter, Mars and Uranus - will be in the same sector of the sky. The great parade of planets will take place on February 28, 2025. Then seven planets at once, with the exception of Pluto, will gather again in one area of the sky, and most of them can be observed with the naked eye.
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Once every twenty years: an unusual "parade of planets" will take place in early June